Motor casing



March 22, 1949- M. E. SCHLENKER ET AL. 294559942 MOTOR CASING Filed Dec. 15, 1944 gern"- Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE MOTOR CASING tion of Delaware Application December 15, 1944, Serial No. 568,312

2 Claims.

'shapes for the parts which particularly suit the casing for economical large-scale production and assembly.

Moreover, it is an object to provide such a casing which is characterized not only by its ruggedness and strength but also by its smooth and pleasing appearance.

Another object is to provide a casing oi the general class indicated embodying a novel arrangement for lubricating the gear train.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in connection With the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a combined motor and gear :casing embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View of the casing of Fig. 1 with the associated motor and4 gear train indicated, generally, in broken lines.

Fig. 3 is anenlarged fragmentary detail sectionalI view showing the friction catch arrangement for securing the motor cover in place.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the casing.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, we have shown in the drawings and will herein describeindetail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be .understood that We do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring" more 'particularly to the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the casing there shown embodies as its primary structural elements three sheet metal cups or shells I0, I I and I2 assembled to denne two separate chambers i4, I5 for reception, respectively, of an electric motor and gear train,

such contained elements being but ragmentarily indicated since they form, per se, no part of the present invention. Thus the motor is indicated et M and is shown as having a rotor shaft I6 iournaled in bearings Il carried by a sleeve I8, one end of which is staked in a central aperture in the end wall of the intermediate casing member it. The gear train is indicated as including two terminal elements, namely, a pinion IS xed to the motor shaft l5 and a gear 26B xed to an output shaft 2 l. The pinion I5 is shown meshing with a gear EE, the latter being connected to the gear through a suitable series of gears and pinions (not shown) to complete a train of desired overall ratio.

The intermediate cup Il oi the Series of three cups (Ill, EI and l2) constitutes the primary supporting member for the motor and gear train elements, the other two cups I0 and I2 serving primarily as removable covers for the motor and gear train chambers I fl, I5, respectively. -For this purpose the intermediate cup II may, as shown, be drawn from sheet metal of somewhat heavier gauge than the other two cups. The end wall oi the cup Il is slightly dished as indicated at lla, and its central portion reversely dished as indicated at IIb, not only to increase its rigidity but also to afford clearance and support for the parts attached to it. Thus the central sleeve I8 of the motor, heretofore noted, is staked to the reversely dished central portion I Ib so that the end of the sleeve does not project beyond the inner face of the dished portion IIa. The end of the motor frame bears against the undished marginal portion of the end wall of the cup II bordering the dished portion IIa, While stub shafts, such as the shaft 23, for the several gears in the train, are fixed to the dished portion Ila, the contour of the latter providing clearance for the inner ends of such stub shafts. These stub shafts project cantilever fashion, without outboard support. Also staked to the dished portion lla is a bearing 2li in which the inboard end of the output shaft 2l has a running t. The side walls of the cup II are formed by a peripheral annular skirt lic. The marginal portion of this skirt is enlarged in diameter in order to provide shoulders at IId and IIe for a purpose which will appear below. Finally, three integral outturned mounting lugs lIf are provided at the periphery of the skirt I lc to make possible panel mounting of the casing as a Whole.

The deep-drawn cup II) is telescoped over the exterior of the intermediate cup II to house the motor M, the marginal edge of the cup I0 being slightly curled and arranged to bear against the shoulder Ild as a stop, The outer portion of the cup il? is of slightly reduced diameter, the cup being shouldered as indicated at lila in order to increase the rigidity of its side Walls, conform it more closely to the contour of the enclosed motor, enhance its appearance, and facilitate drawing of the same. An observation port may be provided in the end Wall of the cup Il) as indicated at 25, the same being closed by a transparent disk 26. Slots 2'I are provided in the side Walls of the cup I for entry of the motor leads.

Catches are provided to retain the motor cover or cup I0 releasably in place on the intermediate cup or base I I. For that purpose apertures 28 are provided in the side Walls of the cup I0 in registry with protrusions or bumps 29 struck out from the skirt Ilc of the intermediate cup II (see Fig. 3). As the cup I0 is slid into place on the intermediate cup I I the protrusions 29 snap into the apertures 28, holding the cup I0 in position.

The third cup I2, which closes the gear chamber I5, is the shallowest of the three cups and constitutes a cover plate for the gear chamber. It is telescoped Within the intermediate cup II, rather than on the exterior of the latter as in the case of the motor cover cup I0, and abuts against the shoulder I Ie. The side Wall or annular skirt portion of the cup I2 is short enough that When this cup is pushed into place Within the cup il, the end Wall of the cup I 2 is nearly flush with the edge of the cup I I, being slightly inside the latter so that the casing unit may be secured to a panel by the mounting lugs II f Without interference from the cup I2.

A bearing 3l] for the output shaft 2l is staked to the cover plate or cup I2, In the arrangement shown the terminal gear is staked to a collar 3| which is in turn forceetted on the shaft 2! to bear against a shoulder 2id on the latter and the adjacent end face of the bearing 30. Accordingly, the cover plate or cup I2 may be removed by pulling on the outer end of the shaft 2|, thereby withdrawing such shaft from the bearing 24 and pulling out not only the shaft but also the cup I 2 as Well as the col1ar3I and the terminal gear 20 attached to the shaft.

To aid in properly locating the cup I2 within the intermediate cup II, a locating stud 32 is staked to the cup I I and presents a reduced inner end 32a dimensioned to enter a hole 33 in the opposed end Wall of the cup I2. Ventilation for the gear chamber I5 is provided through this same stud 32. For that purpose an axial hole 34 is drilled in the outer end of the stud, as well as a transverse hole 35 communicating with the hole 34 and the interior of the chamber I5. The holes 34, 35 thus constitute a so-called breather passage for the gear chamber.

The stud 32 also serves a further purpose, namely, to hold a plastic or sheet metal disk 36 in place against the inner face of the cover plate or cup I2, such disk forming a part of the lubricating system for the gear train. The outer end of the stud 32 is shouldered as indicated at 32h, thereby securing the disk 36 in place. This latter disk has a large aperture in it as indicated at 31 in which the end of the outlet shaft bearing 30 is located, and also has small apertures, such as the aperture 38, in it adjacent the outboard ends of the several stub shafts that support elen ments of the gear train. Lubricating oil moves by capillary action between the opposed faces of the members I2 and 36 from the low side of the gear chamber i5 to the outlet holes 38 where it passes to the several stub shafts, lubricating the same. In this way lubricating oil is effectively fed to the several shafts of the elements of the gear train, such feed being substantially equally eifective no matter what angular position the casing may be mounted in.

What is claimed is:

1. In a double chambered casing for an electric motor and its associated speed reduction gearing, the combination of a sheet metal base adapted to have an electric motor fixed to one side thereof and a speed reduction gearing mounted on the other side, said base being bordered by an annular integral skirt; and rst and second sheet metal cups telescoped respectively over and into said skirt, and separately removable therefrom, to define first and second chambers on opposite sides of said base for separately housing the motor and gearing.

2. In a double chambered casing for an electric motor and its associated speed reduction the combination of a sheet metal hase centrally apertured for passage therethrough of a motor shaft, said base being adapted to have an electric motor fixed on one face thereof and being bord ered by an annular peripheral skirt projecting away from said face, said base being adapted for the mounting on its other face of a gear train driven from a shaft projecting through said central aperture and enclosed laterally by said skirt, the outer portion of said skirt being of enlarged diameter to present two oppositely facing annular shoulders at the point of beginning of such en largement and With one shoulder inside the skirt facing away from said base and the other shoulder on the outside of said skirt, a deep sheet metal cup telescoped over the exterior of said skirt with its edge bearing against said exterior shoulder on the latter to enclose a motor fixed on said one face of said base, and a shallow sheet metal cup telcscoped Within said skirt and bearing against said interior shoulder to close the open end of said skirt.

MAX E. SCHLENKER. JOSEPH J. GMEINER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 971,690 Schmidt Oct. l, 1910 1,222,107 Kent Apr. l0, 1917 1,400,085 McConnell Deo. 13, 192i 1,456,082 Warren May 22, 1923 1,924,853 Hammond Aug. 29, 1933 2,144,656 Hansen Jan. 2li, 1939 2,169,168 Shipley Aug. 8, 1939 2,171,987 Poole Sept. 5, 1939 2,266,878 Lux Dec. 23, 194i 

